Highest-paying trades in Maryland
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Maryland, with a median of $122,260 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 40 of the 75 trades ranked here pay more than the $59,510 median for all jobs in Maryland.
All 75 trades by median pay in Maryland
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers810 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $122,260$58.78/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay+14% vs U.S. | $117,760$56.61/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers1,830 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $106,090$51.01/hr |
| 4 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers370 jobs · +59% vs U.S. | $100,800$48.46/hr |
| 5 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians1,070 jobs · +26% vs U.S. | $100,500$48.32/hr |
| 6 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment290 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $98,850$47.53/hr |
| 7 | Avionics technicians160 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $97,490$46.87/hr |
| 8 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators320 jobs · +31% vs U.S. | $92,030$44.25/hr |
| 9 | Riggers230 jobs · +46% vs U.S. | $91,420$43.95/hr |
| 10 | Rail car repairers560 jobs · +32% vs U.S. | $89,430$43.00/hr |
| 11 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers2,400 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $82,380$39.60/hr |
| 12 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,160 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $79,650$38.29/hr |
| 13 | Construction and building inspectors2,780 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $76,640$36.85/hr |
| 14 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists3,030 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $74,790$35.96/hr |
| 15 | Electricians13,690 jobs · +16% vs U.S. | $73,490$35.33/hr |
| 16 | Medical equipment repairers1,660 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $72,310$34.77/hr |
| 17 | Industrial machinery mechanics2,880 jobs · +11% vs U.S. | $71,870$34.55/hr |
| 18 | Structural iron and steel workers710 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $71,730$34.49/hr |
| 19 | Insulation workers, mechanical450 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $70,030$33.67/hr |
| 20 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers8,560 jobs · +15% vs U.S. | $70,020$33.67/hr |
| 21 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines1,800 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $68,250$32.81/hr |
| 22 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door800 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $66,500$31.97/hr |
| 23 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters11,420 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $65,400$31.44/hr |
| 24 | Security and fire alarm systems installers2,230 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $65,330$31.41/hr |
| 25 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other130 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $65,240$31.36/hr |
| 26 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers200 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $65,160$31.33/hr |
| 27 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers2,520 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $63,050$30.31/hr |
| 28 | Carpenters9,770 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $62,960$30.27/hr |
| 29 | Sheet metal workers1,940 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $62,560$30.08/hr |
| 30 | Watch and clock repairers−7% vs U.S. | $62,440$30.02/hr |
| 31 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers+5% vs U.S. | $61,640$29.64/hr |
| 32 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators6,610 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $61,410$29.53/hr |
| 33 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators750 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $60,530$29.10/hr |
| 34 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians+7% vs U.S. | $60,360$29.02/hr |
| 35 | Locksmiths and safe repairers270 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $60,330$29.01/hr |
| 36 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians420 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $60,310$29.00/hr |
| 37 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers2,850 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $60,310$29.00/hr |
| 38 | Roofers2,050 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $60,090$28.89/hr |
| 39 | Glaziers1,820 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $59,890$28.79/hr |
| 40 | Maintenance workers, machinery1,870 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $59,570$28.64/hr |
| 41 | Millwrights160 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $59,220$28.47/hr |
| 42 | Brickmasons and blockmasons1,650 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $59,030$28.38/hr |
| 43 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall1,240 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $58,420$28.09/hr |
| 44 | Home appliance repairers570 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $57,860$27.82/hr |
| 45 | Motorcycle mechanics170 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $57,640$27.71/hr |
| 46 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics14,230 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $57,520$27.66/hr |
| 47 | Carpet installers250 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $57,030$27.42/hr |
| 48 | Plasterers and stucco masons140 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $56,890$27.35/hr |
| 49 | Mechanical door repairers490 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $56,430$27.13/hr |
| 50 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners160 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $56,410$27.12/hr |
| 51 | Automotive body and related repairers2,930 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $56,100$26.97/hr |
| 52 | Pipelayers650 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $55,640$26.75/hr |
| 53 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners160 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $55,130$26.50/hr |
| 54 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers1,470 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $54,680$26.29/hr |
| 55 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers40 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $54,670$26.28/hr |
| 56 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers960 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $54,120$26.02/hr |
| 57 | Cement masons and concrete finishers2,540 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $51,950$24.98/hr |
| 58 | Maintenance and repair workers, general23,730 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $51,490$24.76/hr |
| 59 | Floor sanders and finishers+1% vs U.S. | $51,100$24.57/hr |
| 60 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other4,200 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,950$24.01/hr |
| 61 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers290 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $49,860$23.97/hr |
| 62 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers990 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $49,840$23.96/hr |
| 63 | Painters, construction and maintenance3,750 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $49,120$23.62/hr |
| 64 | Highway maintenance workers620 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $49,030$23.57/hr |
| 65 | Hazardous materials removal workers660 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $48,640$23.39/hr |
| 66 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles450 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $47,880$23.02/hr |
| 67 | Automotive glass installers and repairers380 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,350$22.77/hr |
| 68 | Construction laborers20,920 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $46,960$22.58/hr |
| 69 | Tile and stone setters240 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $45,670$21.96/hr |
| 70 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics440 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $45,630$21.94/hr |
| 71 | Solar photovoltaic installers670 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $45,430$21.84/hr |
| 72 | Bicycle repairers70 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $44,550$21.42/hr |
| 73 | Tire repairers and changers880 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $44,430$21.36/hr |
| 74 | Stonemasons250 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $44,280$21.29/hr |
| 75 | Boilermakers30 jobs · −45% vs U.S. | $42,250$20.31/hr |
Linked trades have full Maryland pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Maryland, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Maryland median for 13 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Maryland?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $122,260 a year ($58.78 an hour) in Maryland, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Maryland?
- 5 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Maryland: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($122,260), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($117,760), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($106,090), radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers ($100,800), aircraft mechanics and service technicians ($100,500).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Maryland?
- 40 of the 75 trades ranked here have a median above $59,510, the median for all occupations in Maryland.
- Do trades pay more in Maryland than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 52 of the 75 trades have a higher median in Maryland than nationally. The biggest gap is radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers: $100,800, 59% above the U.S. median of $63,520.
- Which trade employs the most people in Maryland?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 23,730 jobs and a median of $51,490 a year.